GAKTpore: Stereological Characterisation Methods for Porous Foams in Biomedical Applications
In tissue engineering, scaffolds are a key component that possess a highly elaborate pore structure. Careful characterisation of such porous structures enables the prediction of a variety of large-scale biological responses. In this work, a rapid, efficient, and accurate methodology for 2D bulk poro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1269 |
| _version_ | 1797412574164156416 |
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| author | Gareth Sheppard Karl Tassenberg Bogdan Nenchev Joel Strickland Ramy Mesalam Jennifer Shepherd Hugo Williams |
| author_facet | Gareth Sheppard Karl Tassenberg Bogdan Nenchev Joel Strickland Ramy Mesalam Jennifer Shepherd Hugo Williams |
| author_sort | Gareth Sheppard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In tissue engineering, scaffolds are a key component that possess a highly elaborate pore structure. Careful characterisation of such porous structures enables the prediction of a variety of large-scale biological responses. In this work, a rapid, efficient, and accurate methodology for 2D bulk porous structure analysis is proposed. The algorithm, “GAKTpore”, creates a morphology map allowing quantification and visualisation of spatial feature variation. The software achieves 99.6% and 99.1% mean accuracy for pore diameter and shape factor identification, respectively. There are two main algorithm novelties within this work: (1) feature-dependant homogeneity map; (2) a new waviness function providing insights into the convexity/concavity of pores, important for understanding the influence on cell adhesion and proliferation. The algorithm is applied to foam structures, providing a full characterisation of a 10 mm diameter SEM micrograph (14,784 × 14,915 px) with 190,249 pores in ~9 min and has elucidated new insights into collagen scaffold formation by relating microstructural formation to the bulk formation environment. This novel porosity characterisation algorithm demonstrates its versatility, where accuracy, repeatability, and time are paramount. Thus, GAKTpore offers enormous potential to optimise and enhance scaffolds within tissue engineering. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:05:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-790120416ad54f8b88a32cb99cb0ca14 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:05:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-790120416ad54f8b88a32cb99cb0ca142023-12-03T12:56:00ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442021-03-01145126910.3390/ma14051269GAKTpore: Stereological Characterisation Methods for Porous Foams in Biomedical ApplicationsGareth Sheppard0Karl Tassenberg1Bogdan Nenchev2Joel Strickland3Ramy Mesalam4Jennifer Shepherd5Hugo Williams6School of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSchool of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSchool of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSchool of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSchool of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKSchool of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKIn tissue engineering, scaffolds are a key component that possess a highly elaborate pore structure. Careful characterisation of such porous structures enables the prediction of a variety of large-scale biological responses. In this work, a rapid, efficient, and accurate methodology for 2D bulk porous structure analysis is proposed. The algorithm, “GAKTpore”, creates a morphology map allowing quantification and visualisation of spatial feature variation. The software achieves 99.6% and 99.1% mean accuracy for pore diameter and shape factor identification, respectively. There are two main algorithm novelties within this work: (1) feature-dependant homogeneity map; (2) a new waviness function providing insights into the convexity/concavity of pores, important for understanding the influence on cell adhesion and proliferation. The algorithm is applied to foam structures, providing a full characterisation of a 10 mm diameter SEM micrograph (14,784 × 14,915 px) with 190,249 pores in ~9 min and has elucidated new insights into collagen scaffold formation by relating microstructural formation to the bulk formation environment. This novel porosity characterisation algorithm demonstrates its versatility, where accuracy, repeatability, and time are paramount. Thus, GAKTpore offers enormous potential to optimise and enhance scaffolds within tissue engineering.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1269pore analysishomogeneityscaffoldmetal foamsspace holdersporous materials |
| spellingShingle | Gareth Sheppard Karl Tassenberg Bogdan Nenchev Joel Strickland Ramy Mesalam Jennifer Shepherd Hugo Williams GAKTpore: Stereological Characterisation Methods for Porous Foams in Biomedical Applications Materials pore analysis homogeneity scaffold metal foams space holders porous materials |
| title | GAKTpore: Stereological Characterisation Methods for Porous Foams in Biomedical Applications |
| title_full | GAKTpore: Stereological Characterisation Methods for Porous Foams in Biomedical Applications |
| title_fullStr | GAKTpore: Stereological Characterisation Methods for Porous Foams in Biomedical Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | GAKTpore: Stereological Characterisation Methods for Porous Foams in Biomedical Applications |
| title_short | GAKTpore: Stereological Characterisation Methods for Porous Foams in Biomedical Applications |
| title_sort | gaktpore stereological characterisation methods for porous foams in biomedical applications |
| topic | pore analysis homogeneity scaffold metal foams space holders porous materials |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/5/1269 |
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